How to Choose the Right Roofing Contractor

A roofing contractor is one that is licensed and experienced in repairing and placing roofs specifically. While the company might provide some other contracting services, the majority of their work has to do with roofs of homes and commercial property. If you are in need of a repair for your roof or are simply upgrading, you want to make sure you have chosen the right contractor. These tips can help you get this accomplished.

Find an Insured Roofing Contractor

It is not a requirement for all roofing contractors to not be insured fully, so if this is important to you, verify it beforehand. Some important insurance policies that a roofing contractor might have include worker’s compensation, general liability, and property damage coverage. You may find that if it is a new contractor, a part-time roofing contractor or they are in a partnership, they might not be fully covered. At the very least, they should have liability insurance. If they are not fully insured, it is up to you to decide if you will still hire them.

Verify Licensing and Registration

Part of the research process when selecting a good roofing contractor is being sure they have the right licensing and registration. First check with your state to get information on what the requirements are for roofers to run a legitimate business. Then find out what licensing and registration the roofing contractor has, not only as an individual roofer, but their company as well. It helps to locate the licensing authority in your city for more details.

Learn About Their Experience

The experience of the roofing contractor is another vital piece of information to get beforehand. Ask how long they have been in business, as the longer the better is usually the way to go. While all roofing contractors had to start somewhere and you might find a company just starting out, it is usually better to look for an experienced contractor. If you do want to give a new company a shot, ask for references and check their licensing at the very least.

Ask for Referrals

Referrals are often the best way to get started on your search for a roofing contractor. It helps because you can talk to the person recommending them, rather than just relying on online reviews and testimonials, without speaking to these people personally. If you have a relative, friend, co-worker or neighbor who has had some work done on their roof, ask which contractor they went through. You still want to complete your own research, but by getting some referrals, you have a great starting off point. Another side of referrals is in others the roofer provides you that can verify their work. If this is the direction you’re going, call these previous customers and ask them what they had done, how long the project took to take, and what their overall experience with the roofing contractor was. That way, even if you don’t know someone personally for a recommendation, this can still give you some more insight.